Switch.



W. F. BROWN.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAYH, m5.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

51mm W $702010 W. F. BROWN.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAYII. 1915.

1,160,039. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

in en WILLIAM F. BROWN, 0F CLINTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. F.

DECKER, OF CLINTON, INDIANA.

SWITCH.

Application filed May 11, 1 915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVILLIAM F. BROWN, citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Vermilion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to improvements in switches, and in particular to the joint connections for switch rails, the object in view being to provide a simple interlocking arrangement to enable ready application or displacement of the switch rails for repair or other purposes.

In essential characteristics the invention consists, in combination with a main track rail, of a seat or chair connected thereto and comprising a socket to receive a cross head locking member carried by the switch rail, whereby to efiect attachmentor displacement of the latter it is requisite only that the rail be turned to substantially right angles to the main track rail.

In addition to the foregoing it is comprehended to provide special pivot means for maintaining proper position of the pivoted end of the switch rail in the seat hereinbefore referred to.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and claimed.

Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Figure l is a plan View of a switch construction embodying my invention, certain parts being broken away to show more clearly the details of construction. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken about on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line i4 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a switch rail forming an essential feature of this invention.

Referring to the drawings and specifically describing this apparatus, the numeral 1 designates main track rails and 2 the siding rails. In carrying out my invention 1 preferably employ a split switch of well known type and consisting of corresponding switch Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 15915.

Serial no. 27,867.

as by means of av switch lever 4 located adjacent the main track at a convenient point, said lever being connected by a rod 5 to a cam plate 6 disposed at one side of the track upon tie extensions 7 and preferably within a. protective housing or casing 8 having a hinged cover 8'. The plate 6 is provided approximately centrally thereof with a diagonal slot 9 into which is interlockingly received the head 10 carried by a transverse bar 11, which latter in turn is connected at its opposite end to a connecting bar or link 12 pivotally secured at its extremities to the respective switch rails 3. It will'be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention refers that movement of the lever 4; backwardly and forwardly will impart cam action through the plate 6 to the bar 11 which will actuate the switch rails 3 for moving them pivotally to effect the proper cooperation of the respective switch rails with either the main or siding track rails.

moved the switch rails are capable of being displaced from their operative connections with the respective track rails as will be described more clearly hereinafter. The forward or pointed end of each switch rail rests upon supports or plates 13 which are secured to a tieinterinediate the track rails and each comprises a cam surface 14: on which the switch rail rests, as hereinbefore mentioned. This surface as shown more particularly in Fig. 2 is inclined and as the switch rail is moved the pointed end thereof is brought up into proper alinement with the surface of its respective cooperating track rail where it is rigidly held for performing its proper function of deflecting movement of a train from one track to another. It will be apparent that the members 13 are also fastening members for holding the rails in place and thereby serve a dual function.

The switch rail joints which comprise an essential feature of this apparatus are both similarly constructed and one only of the V which provide an elongated opening 18 at the top thereof. This opening 18 is in alinement with the track rail to which the joint is connected and the socket is adapted to receive the cross head 19 formed on the switch rail 3 at its pivoted end, said head or plate 19 being spaced by the shank 20 from 111.13 body portion of the switch rail and said .i-ail being suitably cut away as indicated at 21 so as to permit of pivotal movement of this member in the socket. It will be noted that the socket is formed with spaced fish plate extensions 22 which are bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the track rail by fastening members 23. It will be obvious that .this peculiar joint does not require any special construction of track rail with which it cooperates and thisis an important advantage of my construction. In the attachment or displacement of the switch rail from its socket it is necessary that the rail be turned at substantially right anglesv to the track rail to which the socket is connected so as to bring the head 19 in registry with the opening 18, it being understood, of course, that the connecting member, for the link 12 is removedto permit of this operation. The head 19 obviously forms a look: ing member for the switch rail connection and as particularly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing the chair or socket is formed centrally thereof with an upstanding pivot stud 24. which is received in a recess formed in the central portion of the cross head 19 as designated 25 This pivotal connection prevents tendency of displacement of the switch rail under stresses from the socket as well as eliminates likelihood of binding of the head in its seat. The spaced flanges 17 of the socket or chair 16 are designed to constitute stop means for limiting movement at the pivoted end of the switch rail, the space between the flanges allowing said rail to move at the pointed end a distance less than thelength of its supporting cam.

Itrwill be obvious that slight changes may readily be made in the details of: construction and arrangement of the parts hereinbefore described without departing from the spiritofthe invention and within the scope of the claims hereto appended. 7 I

Copies or this patent may be obtained for 7 Having thus described the invention, what I track rail.

' 2. In combination, a track rail, a switch 1 rail coacting therewith, a switch joint connected to the track rail and having a socket having an opening extending in alinement with the track rail, and an elongated head projecting from beneath the switch rail at an angle thereto adapted to be received in said 7 socket upon registry of the cross head with the opening aforesaid.

3. In combination, a track rail, a switch rail coacting therewith, a switch jointhaving a socket, fish plate extensions for connecting said joint to the track rail, connecting members for securing the fish plate exreceived in the socket.

a. In combination, a track rail, a switch rall coacting therewith, a switch joint hav-] ,ing a socket, fish plate extensions for connecting said joint tothetrack rail, connecttensions to the track rail, and a locking mem V ber carried by the switch rail adapted tobe ing members for securing the fish plate extensions to the track rail, a lockingmember carried by the switch rail adapted to bere- "ceived in the socket, and pivot means formed on said joint for preventing displacement of ,1

the switch rail in the socket aforesaid.

5. In combination, a track rail, a switch rail coacting therewith, a switch joint comprising a chair to receive the pivot end of V on said chair at either side of the switch rail for limiting pivotal movement of said-- switch rail.

6. In combination, a track rail, a switch. ra11 coacting therewith, a switch joint com-, prising a chair to receive the pivot'end of.

said switch rail, means for securing said said switch rail, means for securing said. oint to the track-rail, and a flange formed 7 joint to the track rail, spaced flanges formed 7 w on said chair, a cross head on said switch rail seated in said chair, and a pivot member 3 formed on said chair, the switch rail aforesaid having a recess to receive said pivot member. 1 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. Q

1 WILLIAM FrB'ROI/VN, J i

' Washington, I). G.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 7 

